Security Guard Salary in Lafayette, LA
Security Guards in the Lafayette, LA metro area earn a median $30,090 a year — 21% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $25,841 take-home, or $2,153 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median security guard salary in Lafayette, LA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$1,431
- Social Security (6.2%)$1,866
- Medicare (1.45%)$436
- Louisiana income tax$516
- Take-home pay$25,841
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 3.00% state
Security Guard pay by experience in Lafayette, LA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $25,450 | $12.24 | $22,191 | $1,849 |
| 25th percentile | $29,190 | $14.03 | $25,145 | $2,095 |
| Median (50th) | $30,090 | $14.47 | $25,841 | $2,153 |
| 75th percentile | $36,960 | $17.77 | $31,155 | $2,596 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $45,200 | $21.73 | $37,528 | $3,127 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Louisiana resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $30,090 buys in Lafayette, LA
Prices in Lafayette, LA are 12.8% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 41% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median security guard's $25,841 take-home pay has the buying power of $29,631 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Security Guard jobs are less concentrated in Lafayette, LA than nationally (location quotient 0.60), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for security guards, adjusted for cost of living
Lafayette, LA ranks #204 of 224 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Idaho Falls, ID | $78,680 | $61,120 | $64,737 |
| 2 | Kennewick, WA | $54,670 | $46,107 | $46,071 |
| 3 | Lynchburg, VA | $49,480 | $39,906 | $44,656 |
| 4 | Rochester, MN | $47,790 | $38,841 | $42,767 |
| 5 | Albuquerque, NM | $44,780 | $37,202 | $38,937 |
| 6 | Utica, NY | $44,420 | $36,070 | $38,919 |
| 7 | Fayetteville, NC | $42,940 | $35,478 | $38,572 |
| 8 | Omaha, NE | $42,370 | $35,176 | $38,272 |
| 204 | Lafayette, LA | $30,090 | $25,841 | $29,631 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 224 metros →
Security Guard salaries elsewhere in Louisiana
- Baton Rouge, LA — $36,500
- Shreveport, LA — $30,720
- Lake Charles, LA — $29,740
- New Orleans, LA — $32,240
Frequently asked questions
How much does a security guard make in Lafayette, LA?
The median security guard salary in the Lafayette, LA metro area is $30,090 a year, or about $14.47 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $29,190 and $36,960.
What is a security guard’s take-home pay in Lafayette, LA?
On the median $30,090 salary, a single filer living in Louisiana takes home about $25,841 a year ($2,153 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $516 in Louisiana taxes in 2026.
Is Lafayette, LA a good place to work as a security guard?
Pay here is 21% below the national median of $38,020. Local prices are 12.8% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $29,631 would in a typical U.S. city. Lafayette, LA ranks #204 of 224 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a security guard afford rent in Lafayette, LA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Lafayette, LA is $847 a month ($974 for two bedrooms) — 39% of a median security guard’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Lafayette, LA
- Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officer — $49,900
- Correctional Officer and Jailer — $46,370